Ask people in Ghana who their favorite rapper is now, and chances are you’ll be surprised to find their answer isn’t Okyeame Quame, Okra, Tinny or Captain Planet, but Sarkodie.
Automically he is lyrically good, he drinks pimp juice (US rapper, Nelly’s Juice), and he raps like he has a book inserted his head.
I recently caught up with the lyrical acrobat who is currently blazing airwaves and the internet especially Ghana Music.com with a featuring he did for Edem of Last Two.
Very soon, the Tema resident lyrical beast will release “Makye” (I’ve been long underground) - his much anticipated joint.
After senior high school, Sarkodie emerged from the gritty streets of Tema and there has been no turning back for the nationwide adored MC.
Sarkodie, who has spent the last few years battling and eat emcees on the ever popular youth program, Kasahere Level on Adom FM hosted by Dr Duncan and making guest appearances on tracks by other artists, is primed to impact a music buying public that has yet to fully embrace his extraordinary talents.
So at the end of the day what does Sarkodie want to be remembered by? “My goal now is to be of good influence to the public so I can die as a true rap soldier,” he said.
Only time will tell if the Ghana’s fastest rapper is going to really be recognized as a driving force in the future of hiplife. One thing is certain though, with a focused attitude and a belief in a power greater than him, no matter what the outcome, Sarkodie can’t go wrong.
Read on to know about Sarkodie’s career highs and lows.
Ghana Music.com: What’s happening man?
Sarkodie: Yo, I’m good and just working in the studio; you know the life of a rap artiste.
Ghana Music.com: What was it like working with Dr. Duncan, host of Kasahere Level on Adom FM?
Sarkodie: You know working with Dr. Duncan was the main move I took to keep me in the game till now. Why, because he was the one who believed in my talent ever since he saw me as a young guy growing up. I wouldn’t have been here today if not for Duncan so all I can say is he has been of great help to my career.
Ghana Music.com: What do you do for fun?
Sarkodie: I always love to write some flows when I’m not doing anything so I can say that’s why am that dope.
Ghana Music.com: You look like a ladies’ man too?
Sarkodie: I wouldn’t mind if the ladies love my style, they have their rights to love it but seriously it’s too gangster for them. You can tell from the way I flow.
Ghana Music.com: You are the best person to tell me about what your album consists of?
Sarkodie: So you can imagine what my album will sound like now that the public are thrilled with my short verse on Edem’s track. Get ready for an unbelievable album from Sarkodie. I can expose the title of my album - “Makye” (I’ve been long underground).
Ghana Music.com: How did the music journey begin for you? If someone asks me about Sakordie, I will say he has been an undisputed rap lyricist on Kasahere Level for long? Could you go further into details?
Sarkodie: I started my musical career at Achimota Preparatory school that’s way back when I was in class 5. Those days were the reigning days for my man Obrafour and I was used to performing his songs on stage. I then decided why don’t I just write something on my own. Then after school I came back home to Tema. Whiles waiting for my results I jumped into street battling at Tema community 9 and we called it Kasahari night. I murdered so many emcees and I was crowned the champ at that time. I still continued it when I went to Tema Methodist Day Secondary school. I later went to Dr. Duncan to put me on his show. I wouldn’t love to talk much about that because my fans know.
Ghana Music.com: If Sakordie, Quata, Dogo and Okra Tom Dawid were to be put in a rap booth to battle each other lyrically. Who do you think would come out victorious?
Sarkodie: I think you have actually rated me with the big boys in the game thanks for that. Those 2 names; Okra and Quata are the people I see as real emcees. It’s going to be a tough match but I believe I will win.
Ghana Music.com: Are you aware your verse you did on Edem’s “Bougez” has boosted your image? The video which was featured on Ghana Music.com also killed it further. What’s your intake on that?
Sarkodie: I thank God almighty for that. You know I was not expecting that kind of response for that particular verse on “Bougez” because I thought it was normal but I think Hammer deserves the thanks because he guarded me to flow that way.
Ghana Music.com: Are you aware that you not yet out but people admire you so much? Even the big boss of Ghana Music.com is now a new fan of you and watches the video of Edem that has your verse on his Play Station 3 almost every morning?
Sarkodie: At first I felt unrecognized until I started having calls from people and I thought it was impossible to meet people like Hammer, Sugar Tone, Nana Fynn, Sidney, Appeitus etc. So I say thanks to anybody feeling Sarkodie to the max especially to my new fan, the boss of Ghana Music.com.
Ghana Music.com: If you ever had a chance to work with Twista, would you like to outshine him or just do what you good at doing?
Sakordie: If that dream can come through, (me and Twista on one track) I think I would just do what I do best but make sure I’m still noticed.
Ghana Music.com: So what do you think about the Ghanaian music scene in hiplife/hip-hop? I mean, a lot of people took a long time to blow up, like Kwaw Kese, 5Five, and all that.
Sakordie: I think hiplife is a great version of music because rap helps deliver messages faster than singing that’s to me. I don’t think hiplife is fading out because the fans are not interested anymore but I think it’s about time music promoters are educated on how to promote an artiste. I can give you an example to clarify what I mean. Just take these 2 musicians; 50 cent and Michael Bolton, do you think they have something in common? No! Maybe except they are all musicians but you can tell they all have their fans and income too so what does a producer mean by I want artistes who can sing like Ofori Amponsah to produce them.
Ghana Music.com: You got any words you wanna say for the readers of the 1 on 1 segment on Ghana Music.com?
Sarkodie: To the reader, I say watch out for the classic album from Sarkodie and they should keep on visiting the site and they will know what time it is.
Ghana Music.com: Also you’ve been on a lot of other peoples’ records, too, lately. Shed more light on it?
Sarkodie: I did some featuring on Castro’s new album, so you can wait for that too.
Ghana Music.com: Anybody you haven’t worked with yet, that you want to work with? Do a track with?
Sarkodie: Here in Ghana, it would be my pleasure if I had to record one solo with Kwabenabour (Obour), Nana Quame, Obrafour and Wanlov the Kubolor.
Ghana Music.com: Your style of rapping, have you found that to be a better style of working for you?
Sarkodie: I would love to use this opportunity to clear something up for my fans. They shouldn’t think because they heard me rap fast on Edem’s joint means that’s my only style because I can rap slowly as well.
Ghana Music.com: The grownups seem to be less and less interested in rap albums. A lot of people have their theories as to why. What are your thoughts?
Sarkodie: Grownups don’t like it because some of us make it sound unimportant. I will not love to mention names but there are some people who don’t deserve to be in the rap game. I’ve performed at several functions organized by grownups and I think they really loved my flow because of my messages I carry along.
Ghana Music.com: It seems like there are a lot of songs that try to create either new slang or new dance steps. Dr Duncan has coined the word, Ekyiree. What are u bringing?
Sarkodie: There are some keywords you here when listening to my flows like “Obrempon Atwe Neti”, “Now”, “One time 4 your mind”. Whenever you hear any of these, you must know Sarkodie is in the building.
Ghana Music.com: When you first started rapping what was your initial goal?
Sarkodie: Initially I wanted to be the first Twi rapper to be recognized internationally.
Ghana Music.com: What are your goals now?
My goal now is to be of good influence to the public so I can die as a true rap soldier.
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